Zehr, Michael S. (1872-1944)

Michael Zehr (1872-1944) was born in Wellesley, Waterloo County, Ontario, the sixth of the seven children of Bishop Christian B. Zehr and Veronica. His great grandfather, Bishop Michael Zehr, and family immigrated from Alsace to Lewis County, New York, about 1833. On 29 November 1894, Michael S. Zehr was married to Anna Zehr at Croghan, New York. In 1900 they moved to Huron County near Pigeon, Michigan, and engaged in farming. Here their only child, Barbara, was born. In 1902 Zehr became Sunday-school superintendent of the new Pigeon River Amish Mennonite congregation. He was ordained to the ministry on 22 September 1905, and made a bishop on 30 November 1930. He took an active interest in the organization of the Conservative Mennonite Conference, serving two terms as moderator and three as assistant. He served as a member of the Mission Board for 12 consecutive years, and for 11 years prior to his death was a member of the Executive Committee. Actively involved in his church, Michael Zehr was also extensively involved in evangelistic meetings, Bible conferences, summer and winter Bible schools throughout the church, as well as missionary efforts. He died in Phoenix, Arizona, where he spent the last seven months of his life and was buried at Pigeon.